FORMER DRUG CZAR BECOMES HOUSTON'S MAYOR

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Lee Brown, formerly the United States' top drug
official, pledged Friday to continue his fight against drugs at the local
level as he was sworn in as Houston's first black mayor.

Brown said he would appoint what amounted to a city drug czar to work with
community groups to develop anti-drug strategies.

"My vision is of a Houston where every child is handed a library card
instead of a beer can, a joint or a pill. Let our children find their
adventure between the covers of a great book and not the deadly fumes of a
crack pipe," he told about 2,000 people gathered at Houston's Wortham
Center.

Brown, 60, served as director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy in President Clinton's first term.

Before that he was police chief of Atlanta, Houston and New York. Brown
defeated wealthy oilman Rob Mosbacher in a runoff election for mayor Dec.
6.

Brown said his election as the first black mayor of Houston, the nation's
fourth-largest city, sent a signal of hope to young people.

"Another important barrier has fallen in the city of Houston. Today all
children -- black, white, Hispanic and Asian -- can point to City Hall and
say, 'I too can be mayor,"' Brown said.

He served as Houston's police chief from 1982 to 1990. The first black in
that position, he was credited with reforming a police department racked by
scandal and racism.

As police chief, Brown instituted a policy called neighborhood-oriented
policing. He said he would bring a similar approach to city government.

Brown replaces popular Mayor Bob Lanier, who could not seek re-election
after serving three two-year terms because of term limit laws.

Copyright ) 1997 Reuters Limited.